Life Update, Starflash, and Amore Vintage

My apologies for being MIA for the past week or so. To say that life has been hectic is quite an understatement. I just recently got accepted to a graduate school program and I've been working my butt off trying to get all the necessary paperwork filled out. On top of that I'm training my new supervisor at work and practically reorganizing the whole lab. AND now I have to train my replacement since I start school on the 20th. Yay. I don't even want to think about the amount of packing and moving preparations that I have to get done in two weeks. Luckily, I was able to find housing in a matter of days for a great deal! So yeah, there's a quick update on my life thus far. If I happen to disappear again, at least you'll know why.

Ok, enough of the stressful stuff. Let's get on with the goodies! I was so excited about the new Starflash shadows that I hightailed it over to Nordstrom when I first started seeing swatches. It was actually released a week early, so I guess my streak of getting products early is still going. The colors I got are: Strike A Pose, Style Snob, and Fashion Groupie. Starflash is definitely my favorite out of all the MAC finishes. They go on so smooth, blend easily, and are very pigmented. I wish I could've gotten more, but I had to stop myself. I was able to drag myself away from the MAC counter only to find myself in the Juniors department where I ended up buying a fall coat. It's a gorgeous green that I can use in the fall and spring (I think). I wasn't impressed with the Nordie's sale at first, but now I'm starting to think I need to go back before it ends! I think I've earned a back-to-school shopping spree. Now on to the pics!

MAC Starflash Shadows

Green peacoat for fall (it has a hood and silky lining)

Taken at the store with my phone

I also wanted to share a package I got from Aileen (name buddy!) of Amore Vintage. I fell in love with a pair of gorgeous emerald earrings she was selling on her site and she got them to me within a week. These babies came all the way from Finland! Seems like I've been favoring green lately... She was gracious enough to include some candy and skincare goodies. THANK YOU!! :)

Package from Ms. Aileen of Amore Vintage

The earrings. So much prettier in person!

I should've gotten the matching necklace... =/

Well, that's all for now, folks. Back to my hectic life, then beachin' it again this weekend!

BTW: The MAC store at Tysons I is now open! This may be late news for some, but I just found out last week. Too bad I'm going to be moving away in two weeks! :(

A Sweet Tease with a Natural Flare & Getting Crafty

A Sweet Tease with a Natural Flare
I finally got around to playing with MAC's Natural Flare eyeshadow quad and the Sweet Tease Look In A Box this weekend! As excited as I was about Natural Flare, I think I may have to return it. Don't get me wrong, the shades are gorgeous and that orange-gold color is definitely hard to find. BUT the quad itself is so hard to work with! There's tons of fall-out (even when I used damp/wet brushes) and the shadows are all smushed together in that small pot. I'm gonna give it another test run, but if it's still too much of a hassle, back to Nordstrom it goes. (Oye. I'm dreading that because that means I'll be exposed and vulnerable to all the anniversary sale goodies!)

FOTD using MAC's Natural Flare eyeshadow quad

As for the Sweet Tease products--I'm in love! The colors are definitely "me." Mulch (a beautiful bronze brown) and Gleam (pinkish gold) pair up for a beautiful neutral look. But most of the excitement for me lies in the Shell Pearl beauty powder which is described as a mid-tone peach with gold pearl. It gives a beautiful sheen with just the slightest touch of color on my NC42 skintone. I haven't touched the Zoomlash mascara, the 181SE buffer brush, nor the Love Nectar lustreglass from this set because I already have those from previous purchases (I really don't mind having backups of these because I do make use of them).

Sweet Tease FOTD

Getting Crafty

I paid a visit to Bed, Bath, and Beyond this weekend and bought two more organizers. One is a huge cart organizer, and the other is a small Sterilite drawer organizer (I've already overflowed the other 3 I already have). On the way home, I was inspired to personalize my newly-bought items . I stopped off by Michael's to pick up a roll of purple ribbon and a can of purple spraypaint. I used the paint to color all my sterilite drawers a dark purple (since my room is purple-themed). Then I used the purple satin ribbon and a glue gun to make a simple design on my new cart organizer. I'm very happy with how both turned out. The white sterilite drawers were an eyesore since the white contrasted with my purple walls. The cart organizer would've looked plain and out-of-place without a touch of purple also. Now I'm very happy with how everything ties into my whole purple theme. I'm itching to see what else I can purple-fy ;)

I attacked my Sterilite drawers with purple spraypaint! :)

My new purple-fied storage cart!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! :)

Retail Therapy and Weekend Recap

I've been a bit stressed and frustrated at work for the past week or so, but luckily I've found a (temporary) solution. I've been partaking in a little bit of good, old-fashioned retail therapy. It all started with a "quick" trip to Macy's when I had to return something. Naturally, I walked out with two dresses. The next day I had to run an "errand" at the mall and ended up with two more dresses from H&M. Then I was enticed by 30-70% off sale signs at Laila Rowe and I just happened to float into the store and buy 2 pairs of earrings and a necklace. I LOVE their jewelry, btw. Fast forward to yesterday (payday!) when I told myself that I would just make a quick pit stop at Nordstrom to grab MAC's Natural Flare mineral eyeshadow quad and I walked out with that AND the much-talked-about Sweet Tease Look In A Box (Shell Pearl beauty powder, you're mine!!). Yep, I lucked out again and was able to buy an item TWO days before it was supposed to be on sale!! The makeup gods love me! Unfortunately, I didn't stop there. I also flitted over to Express and bought a pair of jeans (love 'em!) and a hot pink cufflink shirt I've been lemming for a while (no worries, I had a coupon!). *sigh* It was quite a successful therapy session, I tell you. Now if I can just get myself to stay away from Nordstrom's anniversary sale this Friday...

PICS!

Dresses galore!

I finally found a pair of rose earrings that I love!


MAC Natural Flare mineralized eyeshadow quad

Sweet Tease Look In A Box (!!!)

Quick Weekend Recap

Even though I was just in Va Beach last weekend, I somehow managed to make it down there again this past weekend. It was our 3-year anniversary this past Tuesday (the 14th) so last Fri-Sun was the closest we got to celebrate it. Believe it or not, we had more fun this past weekend than we did in Vegas! Ha! Go figure. When you're an old couple at heart, you don't need to go anywhere or spend tons of money to thoroughly enjoy each other's company. Here are some highlights:

• babysitting the bf's niece and nephew changing my 1st diaper!
• pool with the bebes--and scolding the bf for letting his niece fall in the water!!!
• trying out the new Tagalong Blizzard from DQ--delicious!!!
  
• dinner date at Freemason Abbey Restaurant--BEST she crab soup in Va Beach!!
• turning in early to watch Wall-E and fold laundry--we actually enjoyed this
• morning bike ride at First Landing State Park--fun, scenic, and a great workout!
• Jade Villa for some dim sum and walnut shrimp!!
  
• driving range to try out the bf's new set of clubs--I need to work on this

GrRr. Why do fun weekends always have to end so soon? :(

Viva Las Vegas!

I swear, vacays go by way too fast!! This July 4th weekend the bf and I headed off to Las Vegas to celebrate our 3-year anniversary. Our anniversary isn't actually until the 14th, but we wanted to take advantage of the holiday. We were only there from Fri-Sun, but we still had a great time. It wasn't your typical wild and crazy Vegas vacay, mind you. We're an old couple at heart so we just spent most of the time walking through the casinos, eating, and lounging by the pool. No clubbing, no getting drunk, and we hardly even gambled (well, the bf did). It was a relaxing, lovey-dovey weekend. We both had a great time and we're already planning our next getaway--Florida in December (hopefully)! Now on to the pics!

WARNING: PIC HEAVY!!

Slots at the airport! It's that serious.

Our hotel, the Venetian.

There were 3-4 pools, I think.

Grand Canal Shoppes! Pretty sky!

I see a resemblance... :P

Gondola!!

R.I.P. MJ

Pool time! Peach bellini in hand :D

He loves taking pics underwater.

Couple shot :)

Indoor waterfall at the Palazzo

JOLLIBEE!!!!!

He wasn't as psyched as I was...

My new ride ;)

Fireworks at Vegas!

More pool time. I'm such a bookworm.

Weeee!!

G'bye Vegas!

If any of you are heading there anytime soon, here are a few tips I'd like to share:

• Wear comfortable flats. Heels are a no-no since there's so much walking in between the casinos. It's not too bad though as long as you're comfortable. A pair of flats I wore had no arch support whatsoever so my legs were hurting by the time we got back to the hotel. Make sure you're comfortable!
• DON'T play the money wheel! For some reason the bf thought it was the coolest thing in the world and he kept playing it. He kept losing. He finally stopped after he Googled that "there is no way to win at the money wheel."
• "There's no way out." Seriously, the casinos do not want you to leave. The signs are so confusing, if there are any at all, and the directories don't help. We spent almost an hour looking for a particular restaurant because we just couldn't orient ourselves in the right direction. It's better to stop and ask.
• If you've got money to gamble, then do it. That's part of the thrill of Vegas, right? I'm not much of a gambler and it's hard for me to part with money so I only played the slots a few times. I kept losing, but the bf kept winning. The difference was that he was always willing to risk more money than I was so he had higher chances of winning. So if you've got the mula, don't hold back. But do make sure someone is strong enough to drag you away when you've hit a losing streak.
• When it comes to shopping or eating at restaurants, look for places that you don't have at home. That's a given on any vacay, right?
• Stay hydrated. And no, I don't mean drink more alcohol. That's the exact opposite of hydrating yourself. Drink lots of water because it is HOT. Luckily, there was a nice breeze the whole time we were there, but it did get scorching hot at times. We always had a bottle of water at all times.
  
• SUNBLOCK! Kinda goes with the previous tip. It's HOT, so protect your skin. Make sure you bring sunblock for your body and a face moisturizer with a high SPF. And of course, don't forget to reapply.
• If you have the time, take a quick cab ride to Seafood City. There's a Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Chow King, and an Asian supermarket all in one building. I've already forgotten the location so feel free to Google it.
  
• Make it YOUR vacation. We didn't really do the typical Vegas stuff, but we still had a great time. We did what we wanted to do and not what we were expected to do. I think that's why we enjoyed it so much.
  

Guess that's all, folks. Can't wait until our next getaway. Right now we're debating between Orlando and Miami. Hmmm... Well, I hope you like the pics and I hope the tips help! Goodnight! :)

Hikin' and Haulin'

Hikin'
Oye, I should be finishing packing for VEGAS right now, but I wanted to do another post before I start my vacay. This past Sunday a few gals, my brother, and I went hiking at Shenandoah National Park. It was definitely a lot more difficult than the last hike I did, Old Rag Mountain. This hike, which consisted of Whiteoak Canyon and Cedar trails, was also a lot more scenic. There were waterfalls, waterholes for swimming, and wildlife (I saw deer, a snake, and a frog)! Initially I thought that this hike would be easier than Old Rag, but we somehow ended up taking the longer, steeper route on the way back. My poor brother hurt his knee very badly and limped more than half of the way back. We were all struggling in the end and even needed someone to drive one of us back to the parking lot to get the car. Still, it was quite an experience and I can't wait to go on my next hiking adventure. Now on to the pics! [No pics of the hard parts--too busy trying to push myself to keep going.]

Off to a great start!

This part was easy.

So pretty!

I wasn't ready but the waterfall is nice.

A bigger waterfall. Those kids were fearless!

My brother sliding down the rocks. It looked like so much fun!!

Towards the end of the hike. We were struggling. And the return loop was STEEP.

Haulin'
Now on to a different topic--haulin'! I've tried to keep myself in check, but it's definitely not working. In the past few weeks I've ordered from MAC, Avon, and Sephora. They were all mini-hauls, but still, they add up. I also went shopping with my parents and ended up buying stuff from Macy's, New York & Co., BB&B, Marshalls, and Ulta. Just last night I put in an order at EvePearl.com to take advantage of this week's promotion. *sigh* When will I realize that I just don't have the money to keep buying stuff so spontaneously?

MAC, Avon, Stila

This Stila Charmed palette was only $10!! What a steal!

My mom picked out the dress. So she's partly to blame...

Ok, better end this so I can finish packing. I'm off to Va Beach tomorrow and then Vegas with the bf on Friday! WoOo!!

Have a great holiday, everyone!!

Two Firsts: Hot Yoga and Spin Class

I know everyone's trying to get in a workout groove now that summer's here, so I figure I'd share my most recent workout adventures--"hot yoga" (also known as Bikram yoga) and spin class.

Hot Yoga
I was able to drag my workout buddy, Ger, with me to my first hot yoga class. We signed up for a promotion that would allow us to attend unlimited classes for one week for only $20. I believe most studios have this promotion so ask around if you're interested. When I first walked in, I noticed the girls were dressed in shorts and either a tank top, sports bra, or a dri-fit shirt. Most of the guys wore only shorts and no shirt. Everyone went barefoot. We were allowed to bring a yoga mat, a towel, and a bottle of water into the room. At first I didn't think the room was that hot, but I started thinking differently 5 minutes into the class. Our instructor was a full-time high school teacher turned yoga instructor for the summer, although he could definitely pass off as an auctioneer. He was very nice and welcoming to the newbies and was pleasant throughout the entire 90-minute class.

We started off with breathing exercises in which everyone started making the most ungodly noise that came from deep within the body. As a newbie, I just concentrated on breathing and not making the noise. We started doing stretches and positions and within the first 5 minutes, I was sweating profusely. I mean dripping, drenching sweat. Some of the guys looked like they were under an imaginary shower. I would say 20-30 minutes into the class I had to lie down and rest because 1) my shins were throbbing, and 2) I was getting really light-headed. I sat down every now and then when I felt I had to. All "sets" were done twice so I could always catch the second set. Unfortunately, I can't name the positions since they were unprounouncable but feel free to check out this link for the postures and corresponding pictures. My favorite was the savasana, which means "corpse pose." You just lie down and relax for a few seconds--super easy.

The hour-and-a-half sessions seemed to drag on for eternity. When class finally ended, I was so relieved. I was proud of myself for staying in the room (which was the goal for all the newbies) but disappointed that I had to sit out several times. It was definitely a challenging and very intense experience.


For those of you who are interested in trying it, here are a few words of wisdom from yours truly:

1. HYDRATE! I can't stress this enough. I think the reason why I started getting lightheaded was because I didn't drink enough water. I drank a lot during the day, but I probably should have started a day or two earlier.


2. Make sure you have no injuries. I got interested in hot yoga when I realized I needed to find other ways to stay in shape. Due to my shin splints (which I now suspect is a stress fracture), I couldn't run, go on the elliptical, or do anything else that's weight-bearing. Unfortunately, some of the positions in hot yoga seemed to have aggravated my leg problems. So please make sure you're in good health and that you have no injuries if and when you go.


3. Keep your lips closed when inhaling. The instructor said it keeps you from panicking, and I think he was right. It also prevents your mouth from drying out.


4. Lay down or sit out a set if you feel that you need to. I always try to push myself to my limits but I do know when to listen to my body. I had to sit out several times because I knew I'd pass out if I didn't.


5. Last but not least, bring a buddy! First time experiences are always more fun if you have someone doing it with you. Not only will you have a friend for moral support, he or she can be the one to motivate you to keep attending class if both of you end up liking it.

Spin Class

My next adventure came a week later, when my workout buddy and I decided to try spin class. I love biking so I knew I'd enjoy the experience. It's definitely a great workout--it gets your legs and glutes toned and it gets your heart pumping. I was a bit hesitant though because of my shins and because I heard it could be really intense. But I set my anxieties aside so I could check off spin class on my long list of things-to-do. Let me just say now that it was a great experience and I'm definitely going to keep at it until I find a new workout obsession.

The first thing we had to do before class started was to change the settings of our bikes. The saddle had to be about about the same height as your pelvis, the handlebars should be slightly above the height of the saddle, and the saddle itself needs to be adjusted forward or backward accordingly. We were told that once we hop on the saddle, our legs must be almost fully extended (but still slightly bent) on the downstroke. If any of you ever want to try a spin class, I suggest asking the instructor to help you find the right settings on your spin bike. Make sure to remember what the settings were for next time!

It was only an hour-long class but it was still a great workout. We learned about cadence (basically the number of downstrokes in a given time), surging (pedaling as fast as you can), jumps (going from seated position to standing up), and a few others things. I loved that spin class is all about how far you want to push yourself. You control the resistance. You control your cadence. I would rate my first class as a mediocre to almost great workout. Next time I'll definitely be pushing for a more intense workout.

Tips:

1. Hydrate! I think this is the same for every workout you decide to try.


2. Make sure you are comfortable before you begin. If you're not comfortable, you may end up hating the experience. You may also end up with some injuries if you're not careful.


3. Pace yourself. Don't go all out right away--build up the resistance slowly and at your own pace.
   


4. Let the music guide you. The instructor should know the right kind of music to play when they want you to surge and when they want you to slow your cadence.
   


5. STRETCH! Our class ended with a few stretching exercises but I knew I had to stretch more after that. Make sure you stretch your glutes and your thighs thoroughly. Your back will probably need some work, too.
   

Well, guess that's the end of this "firsts" segment. I'm always looking to try something new and I love suggesting it to others. Hopefully my descriptions of the workouts and my tips will help out those of you who want to try them in the future. I think kickboxing and body sculpting are up next... ;)

No Doubt FOTN and New Hurr Cut

I honestly didn't feel like going to the No Doubt concert, which was held at the Nissan Pavillion this past Sunday. I've never been a big fan and I didn't want to spend any money. But when my cousin said she was able to score me tickets for FREE (late bday present, apparently), I decided to go. It was so last minute, too. Luckily I was able to get a friend to come with me. We ran a bit late so we missed the opening acts, Paramore and The Sounds. No biggie since I've never really even heard of them. We made it a little after No Doubt came on though. Let me just say, they are awesome performers! Gwen really knew how to work the crowd. It's amazing how much energy she has. Oh, and I can't get over how great she looks, despite having two kids. Her abs were to die for! Ok, enough girl crushing... I wish I had vids to post, but alas, I only have pics. Here's a couple that I really like:

And, finally, here's my FOTN for the concert. I tried to keep it subtle with a light smokey eye and pink lips. I knew I was gonna sweat everything off anyway.

I was wearing MAC Studio Sculpt foundation, which has SPF, so the flash made my face look a lot lighter than my neck :(

Hurr Cut!!
Finally got my much-anticipated hair cut a few days ago. I thought that it had been a while since my last cut, but it was really only since the end of March. I just felt that my hair was getting too unruly--my layers and bangs had all grown out. So when I went to my stylist, I told her I wanted to try something different. Usually I get my hair cut a few inches shorter (to medium length), my layers redone, and sideswept bangs. This time, I wanted to keep the length so I just got the layers redone. I also asked for fringe bangs, which I'm debating about at the moment. It's different, it's stylish--but is it me? I've gotten compliments, but I think everyone's supposed to get compliments after a cut. I guess I still have to get used to styling the bangs and keep trying to make them work for me.

BEFORE

AFTER

So far I find these to be more high maintenance than my regular side-swept bangs. I'm slowly starting to get used to it though...Guess that's it for now.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND! :)

PS. I did end up trying hot yoga ("Bikram yoga"). I'll be sure to do a post on my experience in case anyone else is interested.